Almost everything that’s changed the world in a positive way has been an unreasonable idea. It’s unreasonable, until it’s commons sense. That’s how change happens and so in order to make a difference in the world, it’s incredibly important to be able to ignore the naysayers. Some of the best and brightest from our community share their stories and advice below.

Kaytee Shashore

Since I began my career in 2009, I faced my fair share of haters, nay-sayers, and doubters. When my father said I had dreams of grandeur, and that I should just stick to my day job in healthcare it was a challenging blow to my confidence as a 21-year-old woman with aspirations. Undeterred, I launched my online magazine, The Sexy Side of Colorado, on May 11th, 2009, despite being told that no one would read a magazine online.  Read More>> 

VANESA CARRILLO

Growing up poor, as a first-gen Latina with dyslexia, I was never handed a roadmap just a strong will, a lot of faith, and a deep belief that I was meant for more. There were people who told me I wasn’t cut out for college, that I wasn’t “polished” enough for tech, or that my ideas were too bold. But I’ve learned to see those voices for what they are: noise. My motivation has always come from within from my family, from the strength I find through the Lord, and from the fire to make my story bigger than my circumstances. Read More>>

Twila Mason

Being a female from a small, rural area with humble beginnings, I have had plenty of practice persisting despite naysayers. Growing up, there were many people that made it seem like the dreams I had were impossible. Honestly, it is surprising I dared to dream so big. I credit reading with enabling me to reach beyond anything anyone expected of me. In books I found possibilities and hope. I saw characters overcome impossible odds. In real life, Read More>>

Steven MacLeroy

The haters and nay-sayers are the exact thing that has driven me to come this far. When I was first telling people that I was moving across the country to start my own company, I was met with a lot of confused faces and doubt. A lot of people thought I should just get a regular 9-5 and that it would be stable and I would be happy. I have known for a very long time that staying still is not for me. I am 22 and have already been to 31 states. Read More>>

Anuja Mehra

Building something that doesn’t fit into a familiar mold often invites doubt, both from others and sometimes even from within. When I started Tinted Heritage, not everyone understood the vision. Creating culturally rooted home decor inspired by South Asian traditions, made in the U.S. and designed for modern homes, wasn’t something people saw every day. Read More>>

Justin Verner

I use my art to rise above the haters and nay-sayers.

Growing up, I encountered my fair share of negative people and, unfortunately, it affected my overall outlook. I would ask myself: “How did these people get this way? How come they are filled with so much hate?”

I’ve come to realize it doesn’t matter. I use my writing and music to create worlds where kindness and love reign supreme. Read More>>

Lina Smith

For the most part, I grew up in Raleigh. But no matter where I’ve lived, people have wished bad on me and tried to put out my fire my entire life. Through gossip and untrue rumors, physical abuse, character assassination, and even phony friendships to get close to me, people have worked to tear me down but they’ve also watched me do everything they said I couldn’t. And I take great pride in that. I never let anyone or anything change my heart.  Read More>>

Lew Morris

It can be difficult at times. Even the best of us sometimes feel like maybe all the haters have a point. The key is that you believe in what you do. You don’t want to surround yourself by sycophants because there’s no growth there and it only caters to your ego. Unfortunately there are a lot of artists around here that prefer that and fool themselves into believing the “yes men” are real support. You have to hang on to the good parts that you get from those who are doing better than you or that you respect. Read More>>

Christopher Kuithe

The biggest nay-sayer I have to fight is the one within myself. Negative self talk, ciclical thought patterns and limiting beliefs are a monster within most of us that we have to face to move forward. I heard a quote that said ,” If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others too as well?” I try to remind myself of this every day, and remember that my creative dreams are real, valuable and true. Read More>>

 Jordyn Shepherd

I persist because I know who I am — and I know why I’m here. There will always be people who try to define me by my past — who choose to throw my addiction in my face or put it on blast in hopes of turning others away from me. But the truth is, you can’t weaponize what I speak on openly, what I advocate against, and what I use to educate others so they don’t make the same mistakes I did. And I won’t lie — there are days when the weight of that is heavy. But I’ve done the hard work to move forward, and I remind myself daily that I am not my past. Read More>>

Jerry Grimes

Being a child of a rural background, my persistence was born out of resistance to the narrow expectations some people had of me. While my family was generally supportive of my desire to explore the arts, literature, and creative endeavors, I was from a region within the United States where the idea of a child from a lower-middle-class family studying filmmaking and art was not only laughable but also unheard of. I grew up in Eastern North Carolina during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Read More>>